Maeve: Sinbad, don’t you see? This whole thing is just an elaborate jewel heist. Let her take her own chances.

Doubar: We don’t know that for sure, Maeve.

Firouz: Where is Talia, anyway?

Sinbad: You go ahead. I’ll meet you back at camp.

(Maeve goes to follow Sinbad)

Sinbad: Go!

(Sinbad leaves them on his own; he goes to the end of the hall, and hides behind a wall, when some guards walk by; he goes to find Talia)

(Talia is in the treasure room; she gets caught in a trap, and is hanging upside-down from the ceiling, by a rope)

Talia: Oh, Talia! You infernal idiot! (sees sword and tries to swing to it)

(Talia gets the sword just in time for some guards, who enter the room)

Talia: Ah ha! I’m after you, hellhounds! Ha ha!

(They fight; Sinbad comes into the room and helps; they defeat them; Sinbad walks up to Talia)

Talia: Ah, Sinbad. You’re a beautiful sight. Of course, that could just be the blood rushing to my head.

(Sinbad didn’t appear to be cutting her down anytime soon)

Talia: Ah, you can cut me down now, anytime you want.

Sinbad: You got it.

(He just cuts the rope and lets her fall to the ground, hitting her head on the floor)

Talia: Why do I always hurt when you rescue me?

Sinbad: This way! Quickly!

(A net falls on top of them)

High Priest: (enters the room) Two more thieves for the Guardian of the Temple to munch on! Excellent. The faithful will always give more when there’s entertainment.

Talia: Oh, you blood-sucking toenail! Wipe that grin off your face!

High Priest: Careful! The Guardian doesn’t like his breakfast to be bruised.

(Dermott saw the whole thing happen)

(Sinbad and Talia are hanging in the cage)

Talia: Oh, we’ve been in worse spots than this.

(Sinbad glares at her)

Talia: Remember Asabijule? (pauses) Oh, did I forget to thank you for coming back for me?

Sinbad: And funny that I should have found you in the treasure room.

Talia: Oh, now wait. (laughs) No, no! It’s not how it looks.

Sinbad: That’s what this is about, isn’t it, Talia? It’s just another heist. You haven’t changed.

Talia: You’re wrong, Sinbad. I…I know it’s hard to believe. I spent my entire life coveting what others possessed. Stealing what I could. But then one day I realized that I already possessed the treasure beyond price. My freedom. Who’s more free than a pirate? I was ashamed. And so I vowed to use my freedom to free others. And that is what this is about. Okay?

Sinbad: Sounds good. But if you betray me, I’ll feed you to the spider myself.

Talia: I was just in that treasure room looking for another way to get to they Eye. The map doesn’t show it, but I thought I’d give it another shot—

Sinbad: Enough, Talia! Right now, our goal is to get out of this birdcage, right?

Talia: Right.

Sinbad: Now, the way I see it, if we were to get this door open, yeah?

(Talia gets up, but shakes the cage)

Sinbad: Stop! I don’t think we wanna do that.

(Talia tries to sit down slowly)

Sinbad: Ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh.

(Dermott is in the Temple; he flies to the room where Sinbad and Talia are)

(Sinbad and Talia are still in the cage; Sinbad sees Dermott)

Sinbad: Talia! Look, it’s Dermott!

Talia: (sighs) Great! Does he pick locks?

(Dermott flies to the cage)

Sinbad: No, don’t you see? Don’t you see? If he got in, he can get out. He can get word to the others.

Talia: Make him give them the map.

Sinbad: (takes map) Okay. (gives map to Dermott) Dermott, find Maeve. Give this to her.

(He flies off; the spider wakes up)

Sinbad: Uh, oh.

Talia: Maybe we should just settle.

Sinbad: Ssh. Okay, okay. Okay.

(They finally settle down, and the cage is still)

(It is dark out; the rest of the crew is talking at the camp)

Firouz: They’re in that chamber. In that pit. With that…that—

Doubar: Thing. Well, what are we waiting for? We can handle those hooded goons!

Maeve: Hhm. They’re the least of our problems.

Firouz: According to the symbols on this map, it confirms what Talia told us. At night, the Temple is protected by an elaborate system of traps and pitfalls. We best be careful.

Doubar: Right. We have to make sure we’re out of that Temple before it opens at dawn, otherwise, we’re gonna end up as breakfast for that monster.

Maeve: Not to mention what damage Talia’s hooks might accomplish during the night.

Firouz: First thing’s first. Getting in.

(Sinbad and Talia are talking)

Talia: So, this, ah, Maeve person. What is she to you?

Sinbad: She’s part of my crew.

Talia: Oh. Well. That’s a relief.

(Sinbad smiles)

Talia: Sinbad, I, um, know we’ve had our ups and downs. Well, haven’t we?

Sinbad: We have.

(Talia moves closer to Sinbad)

Sinbad: Careful! Or this could turn into a threesome.

Talia: That’s an option.

Sinbad: Talia.

(Talia sits back down)

(The rest of the crew is walking through the Temple; they beat up the guard, Lermon, who’s also in the room, looks back, and sees no one, then Rongar, dressed as a guard appears; when Lermon’s back is turned, the others walk past)

Firouz: (stops beside Rongar) Rongar!

(Rongar follows them; they walk around a corner, and a guard is thrown down the hall; Doubar appears and looks at him, then continues with the rest of them; they come to a hall)

Firouz: Doubar, stop!

Maeve: What was that?

Doubar: I don’t see anything.

Firouz: That, I believe is the whole point.

(He lights a few torches, and throws them down onto the floor, where they disappear into nothingness)

Firouz: (steps up onto a small ledge sticking out from the wall) This way. Stay close to the walls.

(The others follow Firouz; they walk along until they get off on the other side, and come to a door)

Firouz: Point of fact, we disturb the flames inside, we’re dead. No unnecessary motion. No unnecessary breathing!

(They enter the hallway; Firouz sneezes, and they all duck as darts shoot out of the wall; the crew is forced to crawl the rest of the way; Firouz almost sneezes, but catches himself; Firouz sneezes a few minutes later; more darts shoot out at them)

Doubar: (turns and glares at Firouz) Firouz! That allergy is going to be the death of you yet!

(Sinbad and Talia are still in the cage)

Talia: Looks like your friends have left us hanging. Smarter than I thought.

Sinbad: Real friends aren’t like that. Someday you’ll figure that out, Talia.

(That’s when the crew enters the room)

Doubar: Little brother! (chuckles)

Sinbad: (stands up) See what I mean? Am I glad to see you!

Firouz: Just sit tight, Sinbad. We don’t want to arouse that thing…at least not yet.

Sinbad: Sounds like a good idea.

(The crew makes ready a rope and hook)

Firouz: Quickly! We may not have much time!

Sinbad: Kindly thing to say, Firouz.

Talia: Yeah. Big, hairy, and gruesome’s about to appear!

Sinbad: Try again, hurry!

Sinbad: Guys, I’d like to skip being on the menu.

(Sinbad opens the door, but swings out with it; Talia pulls him back inside)

Doubar: Now hook it on the top!

Firouz: You, too, Rongar.

(Rongar throws the rope up)

Sinbad: Good throw!

Doubar: Now, slide down!

Talia: It does look hungry.

Sinbad: Hurry!

(Talia slides down first, then Sinbad; Maeve throws a fireball and hits the rope that the spider is on, and he and the cage fall onto the spikes below)

Talia: The Eye. Hurry! We gotta get the Eye! It’ll be sunrise soon!

(They run out of the room)

(The crew and Talia comes to the room with the Eye of Kratos in it)

Firouz: Open sesame!

(Firouz uses a staff to push a button on the floor and the door opens)

Maeve: Very original, Firouz.

(They walk in)

Firouz: It’s nothing, really. Just keen observation, and a little bit of reductive de—(notices everyone else went in without him, he follows them)

(Lermon and the High Priest are talking in the High Priest’s chamber)

High Priest: How could you let this happen?

Lermon: They’re devils. Nothing but money-grabbing thieves.

High Priest: Capture those dogs and hold them till I get there. Seal the Temple. Let no pilgrims in until this whole situation has been resolved.

(Lermon turns to leave; the Temple Virgin comes out and puts her arms around the High Priest)

High Priest: Oh, I said not now! Don’t you understand!

(Lermon turns around, then leaves)

High Priest: Those ignorant peasants discover that…pack of thieves will come in here and make fools of us, well, my pity will be back, dancing in the harem quicker than you can say the Eye of Kratos!

(Lermon sees guards)

Lermon: You three! The intruders are here! Find them, and kill them!

(The guards leave, to find them)

(The crew and Talia are in the room with the Eye of Kratos; Talia goes closer, but Firouz stops her)

Firouz: Wait, it’s a trap!

Doubar: What, more surprises?

(Firouz takes a staff and holds it over the fire, which rises at the movement)

Sinbad: Woah! And another warm welcome.

Maeve: We can’t wait much longer.

Firouz: A swinging point. That’s all we need!

(Guards voices are heard)

Sinbad: Quick! The doors!

(They run to the doors and begin to push them shut while Firouz figures out a way to get the Eye)

Sinbad: Almost there!

(They push the doors shut)

Guard: Open the door!

Firouz: We still need to get you high enough to get you over the altar.

Sinbad: I think I need a big guy boost.

(Doubar and Rongar boost Sinbad up; Sinbad swings towards the Eye)

Maeve: Hurry! The sun’s about to shine in!

(Sinbad swings back and forth, trying to get the Eye; the guards are still trying to get in)

Maeve: Sinbad! Watch out!

(The sun shines in and reflects off the Eye; Sinbad holds his arm in front of his eyes because of the brilliance of the jewel; he swings to the Eye one more time and finally grabs it)

Talia: The Eye! Sinbad, pass me the Eye! (holds up arms)

(Sinbad doesn’t give it to her)

Guard: We can’t get the door open!

High Priest: Back away, idiots!

(He hits staff down onto the button on the floor and the door opens; the crew fights the guards)

Sinbad: Where’s Talia?

(They continue fighting)

Maeve: Where else? Looting the treasure!

(They continue fighting; they finally defeat them)

Sinbad: Go, go, go!

Talia: Sinbad!

Sinbad: What?

Talia: You might need this!

(She hands him a sword)

Sinbad: Thanks.

(They run outside)

High Priest: Can you kill no one today?

Lermon: Yes, I can!

(The crew and Talia runs outside)

High Priest: (to peasants) Flee for your safety! Quickly! The Eye is gone!

(The peasants run)

(Talia holds up a sword to Sinbad)

Sinbad: You wouldn’t.

Talia: Oh, yes I would. Oh, you didn’t really think I’d pass on a prize like that, did you? You’re getting soft in your old age, Sinbad.

(Sinbad goes to fight her with his sword, but it falls apart)

Talia: You see, I picked that one out especially for you. Hand over the Eye. Hey, I worked hard for that rock. It’s mine!

Sinbad: You said it yourself. It’s evil. It has to be destroyed! You’ll have to kill me to get it.

Talia: Yeah, one of us is going to die.

(They begin to fight each other; Lermon comes up behind them)

Talia: Oh, no.

Lermon: Yes.

High Priest: Two more shall give up their lives for defying the Eye of Kratos!

Lermon: Yes. Hold your ground. It’ll make my slicing that much easier.

(Talia and Sinbad join forces to defeat him; Sinbad and his crew fight the guards around them)

Sinbad: (looks in bag and see the Eye is missing) Talia!

(Talia, the High Priest, and the Temple Virgin are pulling on the Eye of Kratos; it suddenly goes flying and smashes on the steps in front of Sinbad; Talia runs to it)

Talia: It’s a fake! The Eye’s a fake!

Temple Virgin: That was going to be my wedding present! For that, I put up with your bad hair and bony fingers all this time? You lying old lecher! (punches the High Priest)

(The guards advance on Sinbad’s crew, who are ready to fight again)

Sinbad: (pointing sword towards the Eye) Anybody think that is worth fighting and dying over anymore?

(The guards and his crew stop)

Sinbad: Good.

(Talia and Sinbad are sitting beside each other, talking; Sinbad’s crew is nearby; they are all watching the peasants leave)

Sinbad: So, Talia, disappointed about the Eye?

Talia: Oh, when I saw that thing shatter in pieces, it had to be the worst moment of my life. Now, watching these people free from their oppression, this gotta be one of the best! This, ah, freedom-fighting business…feels good.

Sinbad: Sure beats stealing for a living.

Talia: Just might give it a try. You know, as long as I can find a way to make it pay.

(They laugh)

Talia: You could come with me, Sinbad. I could use someone around to keep me honest.

Sinbad: (points to his crew, who are behind Talia) That’s my crew.

Talia: Oh. I just thought I’d ask. Yep, I have been meaning to get one of those together myself. (pauses and sniffs) This desert air is hell on my sinuses. Back to the high seas for me. If only I can borrow a boat. See ya’ later, Sinbad.

(Talia gets up and hops onto a horse)

Guard: That’s my horse!

(Talia kicks the guard down and rides off)

Doubar: What’s she up to, now?

Maeve: Did I hear her say something about borrowing something?

Sinbad: She needs a boat. (he realizes that Talia could be after the Nomad, his smile fades from his face) I think we better head back to the ship…and fast!

(Sinbad and his crew go to the Nomad)

THE END